Chapter 9: Burning Fields
The village chief waited anxiously for Wen Gu's return. Upon hearing that the Daoist Master had other plans and would not let them suffer, he was finally at ease.
He didn't doubt them at all.
They still held Daoist Master Qingyi in awe.
However, with so many people in the village needing to live, he had to consider the village's interests more.
Wen Gu had sounded out the Daoist Master for them, and they were willing to discuss their upcoming plans further with Wen Gu.
Now that the time was right, they could no longer stay cooped up in the village. They needed to go out, search for needed building materials and supplies in town, and prepare for the construction of the fortress.
As for when they would act, it depended on the weather.
If the weather was suitable, they would clear the wild obstructions, first roughly screening the path from the village to the town.
The villagers had lived off the land for generations and were not unfamiliar with burning fields. There were different experiences in dealing with spring and autumn field burning.
Now, they were first undertaking the preparatory work.
Copper coins no longer held their former value. In the village, they bartered goods or exchanged them for help with tasks.
However, with more work to be done and more people involved, it would be too complicated to keep track. The few leaders were momentarily unsure how to arrange it.
Wen Gu suggested, "How about we record work points? We can calculate remuneration points based on labor and time, and distribute village income according to these points."
Currently, supplies were managed collectively by the village. The leaders were not foolish and could try this method for now.
Wen Gu proposed the suggestion of recording points based on merit, using tally marks for counting.
Excessive numbers and symbols might not be suitable for this place, and using tally marks was closer to the common people's customs.
However, this required the village to find someone fair, literate, and numerate to take on this position.
Upon hearing this, the leaders felt it was feasible. It was equivalent to using another practical form of "money" to replace the former copper coins. How much one could earn depended entirely on how much merit they accumulated.
However, there was disagreement regarding the candidate.
Recording work points was equivalent to managing everyone's money, much like an accountant in a restaurant.
This accountant must be chosen carefully. All our money would be under their management. If they were biased or embezzled everyone's money…
Regardless, our own money must not be shortchanged!
Although there were not many types of supplies in the village now, there were many tasks. It was precisely at such times that accounts needed to be clear, otherwise, disputes could lead to bloodshed.
For a moment, the room became lively.
When it came to matters of money, their previously muddled thoughts immediately cleared up. Everyone had their own thoughts and preferred candidates.
Besides, recording accounts did not require copying books, so the academic requirements were not that high. Who couldn't draw a "正" mark? Even if they couldn't, learning it would not be difficult.
After making his suggestion, Wen Gu sat quietly, watching, holding his medicinal herbal tea.
He listened to the leaders nominate candidates and matched them with people he knew. This was also a way to understand the villagers.
There were many candidates, which indicated that there were also many talented people in the village who were staying at home. They should come out and do something!
After much debate, the leaders reached an optimal candidate—
The nephew of Zhang Er Zhuang, the former accountant at the county town's restaurant and now the village's accountant and storyteller, Zhang Xin.
Young Zhang was fifteen or sixteen years old. The villagers all said he was addled from studying, rigid, pedantic, and inflexible.
If it were in the past, they might have called it scholarly demeanor. But now that the world had changed, someone like him, without the care of his uncle Zhang Er Zhuang, would not have survived this long.
Zhang Xin was slightly better than his peers in mathematics. He had lived in the county town before and came to the village to escape danger. He didn't quite interact with the villagers.
Once the decision was made, they summoned both Zhang Er Zhuang and Zhang Xin.
The Zhang family had been away from the village for many years. Returning to seek refuge, they had always acted cautiously. Being suddenly summoned by the village leaders, they were bewildered and worried.
When they understood the details, they were naturally overjoyed.
It was just recording work points, no need to move things, no need to confront those monsters—what a leisurely job!
Zhang Er Zhuang thought that his nephew had a rigid personality and was prone to offending people. He said, "Why don't I take this job temporarily, and he can follow me to learn first?"
The leaders present looked at the more cunning Zhang Er Zhuang, and then all turned to look at Zhang Xin, who stood beside him with a blank face.
In other matters, they would naturally consider the more experienced Zhang Er Zhuang more reliable. But on this matter, they all favored this upright and rigid nephew.
They wanted stubbornness!
They wanted rigidity!
They wanted uprightness!
It had to be as it should be, not a single point off!
Zhang Er Zhuang: "..."
Fine. At least his nephew got this job. As long as he did this job well, their family would also have a standing in the village.
Compared to this job that many envied, Zhang Xin's attention was mostly on Wen Gu beside him.
Wen Gu put down his teacup and stood up, first performing a set of etiquette between scholars.
Zhang Xin was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He was momentarily transported back to his days in school.
When he came back to his senses, he was filled with melancholy.
The villagers did not care for these "pedantic rituals." Over time, he had almost forgotten his identity as a scholar.
The village chief told him about the task of recording points and asked him, "Do you have any other questions about this matter? Do you have any objections?"
Zhang Xin, having just been uplifted by Wen Gu and regaining his scholarly spirit, was flushed with excitement. He swept away his previous dejection, and a great ambition rose in his heart.
"No objections! I study the classics of the sages, and it is my duty to serve the people!"
The spirited young accountant Zhang left with a radiant expression on his face.
With the scorer decided.
The few people inside continued to discuss, occasionally asking for Wen Gu's opinion. This scholar could indeed solve problems.
When discussing building bricks and tiles, Wen Gu asked them:
"Has the village considered building a brick kiln?"
The village chief had thought of it before, but shook his head, "It's not worth it."
To fire bricks oneself, one needed to handle water and mud to make the clay. However, the evil plague and poisonous insects were more active in water. Villagers dared not approach those damp mud pits and puddles, let alone dig mud to make bricks.
Firewood also had to be used sparingly, and they couldn't afford the consumption.
Compared to that, it was better to directly dismantle some bricks in town and haul them back.
Wen Gu nodded in agreement.
The village was still too small in scale.
Even with the technology, the villagers had no experience in building a brick kiln and would need to experiment. The product made through time and effort might not even be good, and there was also the risk of being possessed by evil spirits.
There were already few people, so it was unnecessary to lose more lives on this.
In comparison, hauling a few cartloads of bricks and stones from town when the temperature dropped would be enough.
Wen Gu asked again, "Have you considered moving to town? The houses in town are better."
Towns, as commercial gathering places below the county level, had frequent trade with both the county town and surrounding villages.
In the town, rich households had built houses using green bricks, which were much better than the thatched and earthen houses in the village.
"Initially, some people did consider moving to town, but later the Daoist Master said there was a lot of evil energy there, so they all gave up the idea."
The village chief smiled and said, "Once our village builds a fortress, it will definitely be safer than the town!"
Another reason for not going to town was that they were familiar with the surroundings. If any unforeseen circumstances arose, they knew where to hide and where to escape.
The terrain and topography of the town were not conducive to defense. There were roads on all sides, intended to facilitate travel from various villages to the town. However, unlike the county town, it had no walls, so it didn't feel safe to live there.
Wen Gu listened attentively to the local residents' ideas and observed their actions, which helped him better integrate into this world.
When the discussions were over, Wen Gu walked out of the village chief's house. Liu the Hunter happened to be coming out as well. Wen Gu called out to Liu the Hunter and inquired about the situation in town.
Liu the Hunter was more familiar with the town closest to the village and had previously gone there to search for rice and other daily necessities.
"Actually, most of the food the village has stockpiled was found in other nearby villages," Liu the Hunter said. "After the outside world became chaotic, we only went into town with the Daoist Master when he first arrived."
He told Wen Gu that many people in town were possessed by evil spirits, making it more dangerous and requiring thorough preparation.
As they spoke, Wen Gu looked up and saw a falcon flying overhead.
"Is that the falcon you trained, Liu the Hunter?"
"Yes," Liu the Hunter said with pride.
This was one of the hunting skills passed down in his family for generations. Some people trained hunting dogs, while his family trained falcons.
Falcons flying in the sky could detect nearby prey, dangers, or unusual situations.
Liu the Hunter had trained birds of prey for the children of wealthy families in town and the county town, so he knew a few things.
Wealthy families also trained flying pigeons for communication. Therefore, when training his own falcons, he made sure they didn't catch pigeons.
Liu the Hunter said, "They usually don't catch pigeons... unless they can't resist."
When the world first began to descend into chaos, it was likely a critical situation where communications from all sides were frequent. Every day, pigeons could be seen flying from all directions in the sky.
Liu the Hunter's falcons couldn't resist for a moment and caught a few.
Among them were the flying pigeons used by nobles for communication.
And it was from these that he obtained information, knowing that chaos was coming and that an epidemic of evil was spreading.
After secretly informing the village chief of this matter, the village chief immediately sent for his grandson Dou Miao, who was an apprentice at the county town's pharmacy. Liu the Hunter, along with two village men, went to pick him up and also bought some medicinal herbs in the county town and town that were not found in the mountains.
Wen Gu listened to Liu the Hunter's story and was somewhat tempted.
But that was Old Liu's beloved pet.
Otherwise? Seize the falcon?
He said, "It can warn of danger and send messages. That's great. Are there any other such birds? I'd like to take one north."
Liu the Hunter said frankly, "Even if there were, they would require a dedicated trainer. You wouldn't be able to control them."
Wen Gu asked him, "Are there no other ways?"
Liu the Hunter's eyes flickered. He didn't say immediately, but he clearly had some ideas.
...
The village observed the weather and wind direction daily, finally waiting for the opportune moment to burn the fields.
On this day, all the villagers went outside.
For significant undertakings, there should be a sense of ceremony.
First, they invited the Daoist Master to perform rituals.
Then, they mobilized the villagers and boosted their morale.
Influenced by the storybooks, the villagers went out without the panic and confusion of before. Each family had been assigned tasks, and their goals were clear.
Wen Gu looked at the fields ahead, overrun by weeds.
The plants that had grown wildly in spring and summer became withered. The poisonous insects and rodents in the wild began to retreat.
As far as the eye could see, large areas of vegetation had turned yellow.
Daoist Master Qingyi, having just finished the rituals, saw Wen Gu staring ahead and also looked over. He saw nothing unusual.
What devilish idea was this "dog scholar" pondering now?
The Daoist Master asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Wen Gu said, "When I was traveling, I heard that there is some form of lightness skill that allows one to directly fly over these wild grasses?"
Daoist Master Qingyi: "..."
Little Liu the Hunter, eavesdropping from the side: "There's such a skill? How do you fly?"
Wen Gu said, "Walking on leaves, or stepping on the right foot with the left foot to ascend into the sky, can you fly over?"
Little Liu the Hunter's eyes lit up: "Are there such miraculous skills in the world?!"
Daoist Master Qingyi: "..."
What on earth were you learning during your travels, you "dog scholar"?!
You're even more of a blabbermouth than I am!!!
(End of this chapter)